hopefulgoat's review against another edition
Like the book, but didn't have time to read it because of uni
archermoony's review
5.0
if you’re looking for a spooky book full of magic and powerful women, then this is your book.
the whole time i was reading this book, i was completely submerged. it drew me in from the very beginning & i was so shocked by every twist and turn.
the book is broken up into three parts and told between past and present. i enjoyed the past honestly more - i’m glad those chapters were longer because they were so interesting. i loved learning about the magic, and how they found it. the writing really draws you into the story and makes you understand. no feeling, thought or action is left unexplained.
this book was so well thought out & the way it came full circle was So satisfying - i was literally jaw dropping when i realized what was going on. i honestly would read a whole series based on the characters in this book.
on top of the main plot, we get a small subplot of a romance and it is SO CUTE. next door neighbors, friends since childhood like YES.
the mother daughter aspect was heart wrenching. i felt so bad for ivy the entire time but she’s such a bad bitch! literally the best girl.
this reminded me so much of like bonnie from tvd meets practical magic - so difficult to explain but it was the perfect fall read.
go read this!!!
the whole time i was reading this book, i was completely submerged. it drew me in from the very beginning & i was so shocked by every twist and turn.
the book is broken up into three parts and told between past and present. i enjoyed the past honestly more - i’m glad those chapters were longer because they were so interesting. i loved learning about the magic, and how they found it. the writing really draws you into the story and makes you understand. no feeling, thought or action is left unexplained.
this book was so well thought out & the way it came full circle was So satisfying - i was literally jaw dropping when i realized what was going on. i honestly would read a whole series based on the characters in this book.
on top of the main plot, we get a small subplot of a romance and it is SO CUTE. next door neighbors, friends since childhood like YES.
the mother daughter aspect was heart wrenching. i felt so bad for ivy the entire time but she’s such a bad bitch! literally the best girl.
this reminded me so much of like bonnie from tvd meets practical magic - so difficult to explain but it was the perfect fall read.
go read this!!!
smilesgiggle's review
4.0
Oh what a plot!
Back then -
Dana and her friends stumble into the occult -in possession of an occultist's, Astrid, journal of spells and more. And Astrid has plans for these three friends - including finding their fourth. Marion studies the journal, forming a close connection to Astrid - who is desperate to re-enter the world.
Right Now (love the urgency of phrase)
Ivy attends a party with her boyfriend - only to find a young woman, nude in a lake. She promises they will meet again. Her mother and aunt disappear somewhere, leaving Ivy wondering what is going on. Ivy finds a safe tucked away in a closet - holding some of her most cherished possessions from childhood. And so Ivy's life starts to unravel.
Great dual timelines, creative plot. Love the narration of the story. Kept me interested if somewhat confused as the story unfolded.
Back then -
Dana and her friends stumble into the occult -in possession of an occultist's, Astrid, journal of spells and more. And Astrid has plans for these three friends - including finding their fourth. Marion studies the journal, forming a close connection to Astrid - who is desperate to re-enter the world.
Right Now (love the urgency of phrase)
Ivy attends a party with her boyfriend - only to find a young woman, nude in a lake. She promises they will meet again. Her mother and aunt disappear somewhere, leaving Ivy wondering what is going on. Ivy finds a safe tucked away in a closet - holding some of her most cherished possessions from childhood. And so Ivy's life starts to unravel.
Great dual timelines, creative plot. Love the narration of the story. Kept me interested if somewhat confused as the story unfolded.
cynsworkshop's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Urban Fantasy with a gothic atmosphere, Our Crooked Hearts sticks with the reader like powerful magic.
Our Crooked Hearts often reminded me of The Craft, wonderfully capturing the gothic and witchy atmosphere.
Characterization
Ivy is our main character for a large chunk of the story. In the beginning, there is a slight disconnect between the reader and Ivy. Ivy is very aloof and very detached. She’s a character waiting to be filled out. It does make the reader wonder, which creates enough interest. Especially once the reader sees the character dynamics, we can see everyone hiding something from her. And all of it is connected to her mother’s disappearance and her past.
As the story evolves, so does her characterization. When you discover her mother’s secrets and past, everything about her makes sense and is an awakening for her. Once this happens, the reader bonds with her, even becoming angry on Ivy’s behalf.
As for her mother, Dana is a character full of life, and it’s hard not to picture her as Sarah from The Craft. But the reader sees that Dana, like Sarah, gets blinded by the power and magic until it is too late. However, unlike Sarah, Dana is a very selfish person. Her selfishness, her attitude, and her actions have disastrous consequences.
It is hard to sympathize with Dana when she does everything she does for herself. She hurt her daughter with her magic, hurt her friends, and fractured her own family. Yes, she did believe she did everything for the greater good; however, she even sees that her actions were done in selfishness first.
Ultimately, Dana is unlikable, but the reader needs to solve the mystery of her actions, hooked in by the atmosphere and magic.
Story Development
Our Crooked Hearts is a well-developed story. The struggle to connect with the characters might be a hindrance for some readers, understandably so, but the story is gripping.
It captures all those witchy vibes, and the gothic atmosphere and rich mystery keep the story engaging. Albert moves from the past to the present effortlessly, developing two stories amazingly while breaking them up at moments that make sense for the flow and pacing of the story.
Final Thoughts
Our Crooked Hearts might have a problem with the characters, but again, it makes sense. The character development and dynamics are based on the evolution and mystery of the plot. Everything makes in the long wrong, and if you’re looking for an excellent witchy book with an intense mystery, gothic atmosphere, and Craft vibes, this is the book for you.
zsometimesreads's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Blood and Toxic friendship
Minor: Death of parent and Addiction
susancanread's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tobesmagobes's review
5.0
I listened to this book really hard and loved it. My boyfriend was hooked from the start and he’s not easy with audiobooks. The Craft the Next Generation kind of shit. Hope the inevitable adaptation is good.
cvermurphy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
squids_can_read's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5